DBKK charges five people under littering offences

KOTA KINABALU: A Sessions Court judge insisted on going to the premises where five people were charged with littering, walking across several old, narrow wooden villages, before passing judgement on the case.
In a landmark case, the Kota Kinabalu City Hall today made history when it enforced the Anti-Litter By-Law 2005 and hauled five people to court for related offences.
The five – Nurazi Ahmad, 66, Norain Lamilah, 53, Mohd Diah Omar,61, Norsidah Garingan, 57, and Salma, 29 – were brought before Sessions Court Judge Ainul Shahrin Mohamad.
They were accused of throwing rubbish out of their homes in Kampung Sembulan into the sea, and could be fined up to RM10,000.
For repeat offences, they could face a fine of up to RM500 for each day the offence was committed.
The five were charged with committing the offence at about 9am on July 23, in Kampung Sembulan.
Judge Ainul Shahrin postponed judgement on Norain, Mohd Diah, Norsidah and Salma until Aug 1 to allow them to clean up their premises even though they pleaded guilty to the charge.
Earlier, Ainul Shahrin, issued a warrant of arrest for Nurazi who was absent from the court, but later withdrew it when DBKK prosecuting officer Latizah Latip informed her that the accused had gone to the wrong place (DBKK's office) instead of the court.
Ainul Shahrin then set Aug 1 for a re-mention of the case against Nurazi.
When the four accused pleaded guilty, Latizah urged Ainul Shahrin to impose a lighter sentence as they had cleaned up their premises.
However, Ainul Shahrin said she was not satisfied with their answers and wanted to see the premises for herself.
She then postponed the proceedings and went to Kampung Sembulan located about two to three kilometres away, walking across old wooden bridges.
Ainul Shahrin, who was accompanied by the accused, Latizah, DBKK senior assistant enforcement officer Mohamad Amir Romeo Abdullah and several police personnel, spent almost an hour checking on the premises.
Also present in court today were counsels Syarulnizam Salleh and Mohamed Nizam Maduarin who held a watching brief for the Sabah Legal Association. — Bernama